It barely seems like yesterday when we were still planning not only the very first Goodwood Revival in 1998, but even the inaugural Festival of Speed five years earlier. It strikes me, too, that we have now held motorsport events at Goodwood in the “modern era” for a longer period than we hosted racing here originally between 1948 and 1966. Now that really is something that I simply could not have imagined way back in the early Nineties.

The huge popularity of our two Goodwood motorsport events never ceases to amaze me. The 2013 Festival of Speed attracted a record 196,000 enthusiasts, with the Saturday of the Revival selling out during the Festival, and the remainder of the event all sold out well in advance now, too, including all grandstand seats, camping and exhibitor’s stands. In fact, the Goodwood Revival has virtually become the Glastonbury of the motor-racing world, so for the 2014 event and beyond, my recommendation is to get in quick for tickets this autumn to ensure you are part of the action.

For those 145,000 or so lucky enough to be coming to this year’s Revival – from September 13 to 15 – we have many treats in store, which I’m already excited about. Seeing so many people dressed in authentic period fashions and looking so happy as they survey the astonishing scene of fellow racegoers, plus the vast array of cars, motorcycles, drivers and riders, always makes it all so worthwhile for me.

Our annual Revival driver tribute this year will be to one of my personal heroes, the legendary Jim Clark, on the 50th anniversary of the first of his two Formula One World Championship victories. Our daily track parade will include a variety of his most famous cars to honour the life and achievements of this incredible and versatile man. The parade will feature a wealth of famous competition cars, spanning a variety of different genres in the course of his all-too-brief career.

Jim Clark competed at Goodwood on many occasions in the early Sixties and, along with his fellow Scot Sir Jackie Stewart, jointly holds the lap record of 1min 20.4sec, set at the circuit’s final F1 race in 1965. I recall very fondly, as a motor racing-obsessed boy, meeting him. He was always very nice to me – quiet, charming, a thoroughly good guy; not brash like some of the other drivers. He was an absolute world-class driver, and “effortless” is a good word to describe his ability.

We will also mark the 50th anniversary of the genesis of one of the all-time greatest endurance racing cars, the Ford GT40, with an exceptional one-model Whitsun Trophy race; the first time a dedicated competition has been held for these great endurance racers. It promises to make for an intriguing spectacle and a fitting tribute to one of the world’s most revered sports cars with a long association with Goodwood, both at the Motor Circuit in period, plus the Goodwood Revival, with examples racing here since the first event in 1998.

Like the Ford, another mid-engined Le Mans-winning legend celebrates its half-century this year; the Ferrari 250 LM. It raced in the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood in 1964, and last competed in this race in the modern era at the Revival in 2000. An example of the Ferrari has also run in the Whitsun Trophy race at the Revival in various years, but I’m delighted that we will have a number of 250 LMs returning to the Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration race for the first time in 13 years, campaigning against fierce competition from Ferrari 250 GTOs, AC Cobras, lightweight Jaguar

E-types, Maserati 151s, Aston Martin DB4s, and many other rare and mouth-watering machines to create the most valuable historic motor race in the world.

Mention of Aston Martin reminds me that our concours d’élégance within the Revival Earls Court Motor Show this year will celebrate the centenary of this great British sports car marque, with a display of the very best and most sought-after examples, including some scarcely seen one-off models.

This year is also the 110th anniversary of the first Tour de France race in 1903, and the 100th actual running of this most renowned of all bicycle competitions. We will have a daily peloton of cyclists riding period racing bikes, joined on track by a suitably French cavalcade of support vehicles, period promotional vans and much more. There may even be the odd familiar rider pedalling hard as well.

Owing to popular demand, a different form of pedal power will also return to Goodwood as we run our second Settrington Cup for children in Austin J40 pedal cars. The race will once more consist of a full field of J40s competing over two heats, with the result declared on aggregate timing. Expect one of the most closely contested races of the weekend!

An initiative for this year is our Hawthorn parking area, where a couple of hundred period vehicles will be able to park within the infield of the circuit. I am looking forward to seeing some real gems parked there during the day.

I am also looking forward to seeing the fabulous air displays, which also add such an exciting spectacle to the Revival, especially with a special tribute to the Dambusters this year. Our annual Freddie March Spirit of Aviation concours d’élégance for pre-1966 flying machines never fails to disappoint me, either.

The cocktail of seeing friends and familiar faces, as well as spectacular wheel-to-wheel racing – including the Freddie March Memorial Trophy race into the twilight on Friday evening – plus lots of happy spectators dressed in period clothing and enjoying the unique Revival atmosphere, is something very special for me, and an experience not to be missed. I very much look forward to seeing you here.